Acura RLX concept previews next-generation flagship sedan

April 3, 2012

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Acura revealed the technology-laden RLX concept, which closely previews its next-generation flagship sedan, on Wednesday at the New York auto show. The RLX arrived in early 2013 as a replacement for the RL.

The RLX concept strongly illustrates the styling and capability of the production car. It has a new direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. It also gets Acura's next-generation all-wheel-drive system, called Sport-Hybrid SH-AWD. The technology was previewed at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan before the 2011 Tokyo motor show and uses dual electric motors to increase handling and output. Enhanced by this, Acura says the RLX will make 370 hp and get up to 30 mpg. A 310-hp, front-wheel-drive variant of the car will also be offered in production.

By comparison, the 2012 RL is rated at 300 hp derived from a 3.7-liter V6 and gets 17 mpg in city driving conditions and 24 mpg on the highway. It uses a six-speed gearbox and previous-gen SH-AWD.

The concept has a considerable amount of bling and marks the debut of Acura's "jewel eye" headlamps, with eight LED units, reflective optical lenses and glossy trim. It rides on 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels.

The body employs high-strength steel and aluminum, and the concept weighs less than 4,000 pounds. The underpinnings are new, with a double-wishbone suspension in front and multilink rear configuration. The RLX is about the same length as the RL but has a two-inch longer wheelbase with a shorter front overhang. That combines with a wider track and width to give the sedan considerably different proportions.

Front-wheel-drive versions get another new technology, called all-wheel steering, that adjusts the angle of the rear wheels with electrical actuators.

The RLX has a bevy of safety elements, including the debut of Acura's new lane-keeping-assist system. Electronics include dual LCD touch screens and the AcuraLink connectivity feature. Navigation and voice recognition will also be options.

The RLX is part of a technology and product blitz for Acura, which revealed the NSX supercar concept (also using the next-generation hybrid all-wheel-drive unit) in January at the Detroit auto show; it's due within three years and will be assembled in Ohio. The redesigned RDX debuted in March, and the ILX sedan arrives with a hybrid variant in May. Pricing for the RLX has not been announced.

The products come as Honda looks to bolster its premium brand in the United States, where it has been criticized for bland styling and a lack of V8 power. At the Tokyo motor show, CEO Takanobu Ito said reinforcing the division is a top priority, and the company projects U.S. sales volume of 180,000 for Acura, a significant uptick from 2011.

"We are not satisfied with the current position," Ito said. "We want to boost the identity of the Acura brand."